So, it was very amusing that I called the fact that Microsoft were going to have to give out tablets at BUILD way before the conference. I called it right here.
Now however, we just received a new rumor regarding the Beta testing strategy Microsoft is currently pursuing for Windows 8.
This is a RUMOR – We cannot validate the truth of the story.So, I got a communication from a source (in Microsoft) who has been right before on this site.
He/She had some very interesting gossip regarding the deployment of the Windows 8 Beta.
This is the gist of what he/she had to say:
■ Microsoft has started thinking about the process of distributing the Beta.
■ The 5000 developer approach (obviously) won’t work. You need massive testing for an effective Beta.
■ Several options are being discussed regarding how to get the public to test the Metro Tablet interface.
■ The least popular option is (obviously) a regular beta release and consumers would have to figure out how to test the Tablet piece themselves.
■
The most popular option at this point is selling (at a steep discount) Windows 8 tablets with Beta software and (get this) allowing them to be (optionally) upgradeable upon final launch. ■ Windows 8 would be able to be upgraded via internet updates (that seems hard to believe)
■ The price for the hardware would be approx $250 to $300
■ Unclear what the price of the software would be when it was RTM’ed (obviously).
■ There are 4 partners that are being considered and – get this – Samsung was not a shoe-in.
Pretty nuts huh?
This is a RUMOR – We cannot validate the truth of the story.I will say this though, it does sound like it makes a lot of sense but as always, who the heck knows..
If true, this would be pretty brilliant because Microsoft would be killing 2 birds with one stone.
Millions of people “testing” who would become final consumers and they would be familiar with the software and advocates by launch time.
Oh the drama…
